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Four more places added to Zika travel alert

A U.S. travel alert has been issued for four more destinations because of the Zika virus. Health officials on Monday added American Samoa, Costa Rica, Curacao and Nicaragua to the list of places with outbreaks where travelers should take precautions against the mosquito-borne virus. Because of mounting evidence linking Zika infections to a birth defect, the government recommends that pregnant women consider postponing trips to places on the list.

A U.S. travel alert has been issued for four more destinations because of the Zika virus. Health officials on Monday added American Samoa, Costa Rica, Curacao and Nicaragua to the list of places with outbreaks where travelers should take precautions against the mosquito-borne virus. Because of mounting evidence linking Zika infections to a birth defect, the government recommends that pregnant women consider postponing trips to places on the list.

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Updated: 7:09 AM EST Feb 2, 2016

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WEBVTT ED JOINS US FROM THE PORT OF BALTIMORE TONIGHT. KAI: THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHERE PEOPLE ARE MAKING PLANS TO TRAVEL TO A LOT OF THE LOCATIONS INCLUDED IN THE TRAVEL ALERT. HEALTH OFFICIALS DO WANT TRAVELERS TO BE PARANOID BUT TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES BEFORE THEY GO. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION OFFICIALS ARE CALLING THE SPREAD OF ZIKA AND SAY THAT PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD CONSIDER AVOIDING TRAVEL TO AFFECTED AREAS. >> IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR PLAN TO BE PREGNANT, DON'T. DON'T GO. STAY AWAY. KAI: THE DOCTOR IS THE DIRECTOR OF -- [INDISCERNIBLE] HE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER EXPERTS EXPLAINED THAT SEEK A CASES IN LATIN AMERICA HAVE BEEN LINKED TO A BIRTHDAY FOR THAT CAUSES ABNORMALLY SMALL BRAINS AND HEADS. >> WE ALL AGREE ON THE URGENT NEED TO COORDINATE INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS, TO INVESTIGATE AND UNDERSTAND THIS BETTER. KAI: ZIKA IS A MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRUS. BRAZIL, ECUADOR, COSTA RICA, BARBADOS, THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, ST. MARTIN, PUERTO RICO, MEXICO, AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. IN MOST CASES, HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE VIRUS CAUSES MILD SYMPTOMS, LIKE A FLULIKE ILLNESS. THE DOCTOR THINKS PEOPLE WHO AREN'T PREGNANT OR DON'T PLAN TO BE PREGNANT CAN KEEP THEIR TRAVEL PLANS, BUT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. >> THERE IS NO TREATMENT FOR IT, SUPPORTIVE TREATMENT. YOU HAVE TO PREVENT THE MOSQUITO FROM BITING YOU. SCREENS ON THE WINDOWS, AIR CONDITIONING. COVER YOU ARE EXPOSED SKIN WITH AT LEAST 30% DEET. KAI: MARYLAND STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE SENT SAMPLES TO THE CDC FROM PATIENTS WHO HAVE SHOWN SYMPTOMS UPON RETURNING TO THE U.S. WE HAVE A FULL LIST OF LOCATIONS INCLUDED IN THE TRAVEL ALERT ON

Four more places added to Zika travel alert

A U.S. travel alert has been issued for four more destinations because of the Zika virus. Health officials on Monday added American Samoa, Costa Rica, Curacao and Nicaragua to the list of places with outbreaks where travelers should take precautions against the mosquito-borne virus. Because of mounting evidence linking Zika infections to a birth defect, the government recommends that pregnant women consider postponing trips to places on the list.